Mannetti turns to old friend
Brave Warriors mentor Ricardo Mannetti is excited to be reunited with a former teammate, who has joined the coaching team.
The Brave Warriors have appointed former national player Collin Benjamin in an attempt to strengthen their coaching staff ahead of the crunch matches that lie ahead.
Benjamin, who is now Mannetti's second assistant, has been tasked with helping the team qualify for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
“I am honoured to be part of this team and I am willing to help the team in their quest to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. I consider this as a call-up and a task that I am prepared to work hard for,” Benjamin said, who is a former Warriors teammate of Mannetti.
“Mannetti is not only my friend, but I consider him as a brother to me as well.”
The 40-year-old Benjamin played for German Bundesliga sides Hamburg and TSV 1860 München, where he became one of the few Namibians to play in the Uefa Champions League.
Benjamin earned 32 international caps and captained the Brave Warriors for several years, representing the team at the 2008 Afcon tourney.
He hung up his boots at TSV 1860 München at the end of the 2011/12 season, before returning in 2013 to join the club's youth academy coaching internship programme.
During the 2013/14 season, Benjamin took charge of the club's under-13 team and was promoted to one of the TSV 1860 München assistant coaches during the 2014/15 season.
The player, however, returned to Namibia with the aim of improving the beautiful game in his mother country.
Namibia will clash with Zambia on 8 September at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in an Afcon qualification match.
Mannetti said the team will be ready to give a special performance in front of their fans.
The coach further named a 25-man squad, which will be trimmed to 18 by next week.
The team will include some surprising faces who were left out for over a year, following disciplinary issues.
Striker Sadney Urikhob, Willy Stephanus and Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Virgil Vries are all going to make a return to the team.
“There is a situation where some players are struggling with fitness, because of the fact that they have not been playing regular football, given our league situation.
“We, however, do have other players that have been active in the South African premier league and that will work well for us.
“It is up to us as the coaching staff to use our tactics wisely, in order for the fitter players to assist those that are struggling with fitness,” Mannetti said.
He is confident that the players will be motivated by the fact that the stadium will be packed to capacity when they clash with Zambia.
The squad is as follows:
Maximillian Mbaeva (Golden Arrows), Virgil Vries (Kaizer Chiefs), Ratanda Mbazuvara (African Stars), Donavan Kanjaa (Young African), Larry Horaeb (unattached), Tiberius Lombard (Lusaka Dynamos), Charles Hambira (Baroka FC), Denzil Hoaseb (Highlands Park), Vitapi Ngaruka (Black Africa), Riaan Hanamub (Jomo Cosmos), Ananias Gebhardt (Baroka FC), Dynamo Fredericks (Black Africa), Petrus Shitembi (unattached), Ronald Ketjijere (African Stars), Wangu Gome (Cape Umoya United), Immanuel Heita (Black Africa) Absalom Iimbondi (Tigers), Deon Hotto (Bidvest Wits), Willy Stephanus (AC Kajaani), Marcel Papama (Unam FC), Hendrik Somaeb (unattached) Muna Katupose (Unam FC), Sadney Urikhob (PSMS Medan), Benson Shilongo (SMOUHA) and Itamuna Keimuine (Tura Magic FC).
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
Benjamin, who is now Mannetti's second assistant, has been tasked with helping the team qualify for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
“I am honoured to be part of this team and I am willing to help the team in their quest to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. I consider this as a call-up and a task that I am prepared to work hard for,” Benjamin said, who is a former Warriors teammate of Mannetti.
“Mannetti is not only my friend, but I consider him as a brother to me as well.”
The 40-year-old Benjamin played for German Bundesliga sides Hamburg and TSV 1860 München, where he became one of the few Namibians to play in the Uefa Champions League.
Benjamin earned 32 international caps and captained the Brave Warriors for several years, representing the team at the 2008 Afcon tourney.
He hung up his boots at TSV 1860 München at the end of the 2011/12 season, before returning in 2013 to join the club's youth academy coaching internship programme.
During the 2013/14 season, Benjamin took charge of the club's under-13 team and was promoted to one of the TSV 1860 München assistant coaches during the 2014/15 season.
The player, however, returned to Namibia with the aim of improving the beautiful game in his mother country.
Namibia will clash with Zambia on 8 September at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in an Afcon qualification match.
Mannetti said the team will be ready to give a special performance in front of their fans.
The coach further named a 25-man squad, which will be trimmed to 18 by next week.
The team will include some surprising faces who were left out for over a year, following disciplinary issues.
Striker Sadney Urikhob, Willy Stephanus and Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Virgil Vries are all going to make a return to the team.
“There is a situation where some players are struggling with fitness, because of the fact that they have not been playing regular football, given our league situation.
“We, however, do have other players that have been active in the South African premier league and that will work well for us.
“It is up to us as the coaching staff to use our tactics wisely, in order for the fitter players to assist those that are struggling with fitness,” Mannetti said.
He is confident that the players will be motivated by the fact that the stadium will be packed to capacity when they clash with Zambia.
The squad is as follows:
Maximillian Mbaeva (Golden Arrows), Virgil Vries (Kaizer Chiefs), Ratanda Mbazuvara (African Stars), Donavan Kanjaa (Young African), Larry Horaeb (unattached), Tiberius Lombard (Lusaka Dynamos), Charles Hambira (Baroka FC), Denzil Hoaseb (Highlands Park), Vitapi Ngaruka (Black Africa), Riaan Hanamub (Jomo Cosmos), Ananias Gebhardt (Baroka FC), Dynamo Fredericks (Black Africa), Petrus Shitembi (unattached), Ronald Ketjijere (African Stars), Wangu Gome (Cape Umoya United), Immanuel Heita (Black Africa) Absalom Iimbondi (Tigers), Deon Hotto (Bidvest Wits), Willy Stephanus (AC Kajaani), Marcel Papama (Unam FC), Hendrik Somaeb (unattached) Muna Katupose (Unam FC), Sadney Urikhob (PSMS Medan), Benson Shilongo (SMOUHA) and Itamuna Keimuine (Tura Magic FC).
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
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